Vending machine



Oct. 17, 1939.

r J. c. RICHARDSON VENDING MACHINE" Filed Aug. 19, 19:56

9 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

James ERishardsun ATTO R N EYS.

b 1939- c. RICHARDSON 2,176,823

VENDING MACHINEv Filed Aug. 19, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5. 56 6/ INVENTOR.

Ja'mEB E. Richardson J. c. RICHARDSON VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 19, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 0 a 1 .4 m 8 m ,m W m m 7 G M 56 m m m? .INVENTOR. James E- R'mharflsnn M ATTORNEYS.

' 0a. 17, 1939. i J, c, mHARbsoN 2,176,823

VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 19, 1936 V 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. 13.

/25 V Y INVENTOR,

James E-Riuhar dscm ATTORN EYS.

J. C. RICHARDSON VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 19.. 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet e FIGQ18.

INVENTOR. James [LRicharflsnn ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 17, 1939. J, c, RICHARDSON Y 2,176,823

VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 19. 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG 2 1.

INVENTOR.-

James II. Richarfl'ann ATTORN EYS.

Patented a. 17, i939 vENnnm MACHINE James Columbus Richardson, Brooklyn, N. 1., as-

signor to The Fischman Company, Phila'dcL- phia, Pa a. corporation Application August '19, A1936, Serial No. 96,874

8 Claims. (01. 312-36) This invention. relates to improvements in vending machines.

The primary object of this invention is the" provision 'of an improved vending machine forthe coin controlled dispensing of refrigerated articles, such as packaged ice-cream, although the generic features of the invention are applicable to vending machines for dispensing any commodity.

.0 A further and important object of this invention is the provision of an improved vending machine from which refrigerated articles are dispensed from a location adjacent the top of. the

refrigerated compartment, in order to prevent.

l8 loss of refrigeration incidental to the dispensing operation; the improved machine of the present invention embodying a more economical assem-. blage of compacted parts which will enable a refrigerated commodity to be automatically dispensed'to an operator merely as the result 'of insertion of a predetermined coin. A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved vendingmachine which is electrically operated and includes a motor autoinatically set into actuation for'dispensing an article through an improved coin control mechanism set forth in a -pending application Serial No. 96,867 filed A st 19, 1936 bearing Patent Number 2,144,568 granted Januar .17, 1939. so A :[urther object of this invention is the provision of an improved article carrier for the magazine' stacking of articles intended to be dispensed from a vending machine. v A further object of this invention is the provision of improved means for dispensing articles from vending machines irom'the top of a stacked series of the articles.

A further objectof this invention is the provision of an improved vending machine intended to dispense articles which may vary somewhat as to size; th'hmprov'ed machine having a dispensing mechanism and compensating means associated therewith to permit the article tobe properly presented and acted upon by the .dis-

" pensing mechanism.

A further object of this invention is the. provision of an improved'moto'r controlled dispens-- throughout the several views,

ing machines intended to dispense refrigerated" articles, such as ice-cream. Other objects and advantages'of thisinvention will be apparent during the course of the following/detailed description.

ln the accompanying drawings, forming a part of'this specification, .and wherein similargeference characters designate corresponding parts Figure l is a front elevation of the improved l0 vending machine showing more particularly the casing with the pocket into which the refrigerated article is dispensed, and an improved coin control mechanism which has been made the subject matter of the above mentioned co-pend- 1 mg application,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the improved vending machine. i Figure 3 is'a plan view ot the improved vend g0 ing machine.

Figure 4 is a plan viewoi the improved vendving machine showing the top wall thereof removed and the motor, carrier, and dispensing tongs in position to complete the dispensing of 25 an article (not. shown); the tongs being shown in theirarticle gripping position just prior to movement of thesame to the dispensing position. Figure 5 is a vfragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the upper portion of the g0 vending machine, showing more particularly the elevator on which the refrigerated articles are carried in stacked columns, and showing the motor controlled structureof the machine and the dispensing chute.

gure 6 is a plan view of the carrier oithe 35 vending machine, showing the motor with the carrieractuating mechanism and dispensing or ejecting mechanism in the rest position. Figure '7 is a side elevation pf the motor controlled means for actuating the dispensing chute closur'e.- Figure 8 is a plan view similar to Figure 6, but with the carrier actuating mechanism and the ejecting or dispensing mechanism in position immediately after the release and discharge of a refrigerated article (not shown) into the dis-- p'ensing chute. I

Figure 9 is'a fragmentary view of a cut-out switchwhich is actuated when the machine is 5 empty toprevent an operatorfrom losing a coin in an attempt to operate the machine.

Figure 10 is an enlarged .view. showing the article dispensing tongs in the position shown in Figure 4. u

- awasas Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view taken '7. Referring to the casing IB which houses the through the mounting construction of the article gripping-and dispensing tongs showing the ele-' vated position of the gripping tongs.

Figure 12 is a view of the structure shown in Figure 11, but with the gripping tongs lowered as a preliminary to the gr pping of an article in order to elevate the latter of! the adjacent article-for bringing it to a dispensing position.

other articles are mounted in the carrier.

Figure 13 is a plan view of an elevator upon which the stacked columns of ice-creamcups' or Figure 14 is a fragmentary view of the moto controlled carrier ratchet actuating arm, showsure means, and article size compensating means.

I the motor controlled carrier actuating mechanism,

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken through the eccentrics shown in Figure 15, substantially on the line l8-i9 of Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a sectional view taken through showing certain mounting details at the upper end of the carrier, and also showing a motor controlled switch arm and package size compensating means. j

Figures 18 and 19 are views showing the inside construction of thetwo valves of an insulation block and motor controlled switch arm construction. v

Figure 20 is a sectional view taken through the switch construction, substantially on the line 292l of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a wiring diagram showing the vending machine operating motor and its coin controlled electric circuit which has been made the subject matter of' a co-pending application, Ser. No. 96,867 flied August 19, 1936 bearing Patent.

Number 2,144,568 granted January 1'7, 1939.

Figure 22 is a diagrammati showing of the coil arrangement of the refrigerating means of the vending machine.

Figure 23is a fragmentary view of certain details of the compensating means by means of which variations in the height of articles dis-- by the vending machine-may be made to adjust the position of the elevator in order to properly position the articles with respect-to the ejecting means.

l In the drawings, wherein for tliepurpose of" illustration is shown .only 'a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the vending machine, which may include an insulated casing 43; article carrier C; a motor D; a coin controlled means I. for actu ating the motor D: means F connected with the motor to intermittently advancethe carrier C;

' means G connected with the motor to move the articles as they are presented by the carrier to 1 stacked articles are maintained in thevending -machine.' a

insulated body out of the closure, The

vending machine, the same preferably comprises upstanding front and rear walls 25 and 2i, op-

posite side walls 21 and, a bottom wall construction 2i and a metal partition wall 22' the walls facing the compartment 29- may be provided withusual vents to aerate the compartment 29. Atithe inner sides of the walls 25 to 28 incluslve, and above the partitionwall. 28 thick layers of insulation ii are provided, preferably of cork, defining an insulated compartment 32 wherein the carrier is 'rotatably mounted. At the bottomof the compartment 32 there is an insulation floor 32, preferably of slate or like material, but

' the compartment 32 is unlined. A tank 35 is positioned in the compartment 32 but terminates short of the upper laterally enlarged chamber 81 in the top of the casing B; this chamber 31 being daterally enlarged to receive the vendin machine operating mechanism.

The refrigerated compartment of the casing B is provided with a removable top wall "which may be screwed or secured at 4| to the front, rear,

and side walls of the casing; the same therebeneath having marginal insulation 42 with a bevel fit 49 against the top of the side wall insulation.

This top wall 40 is provided with an opening 44 closure seating flange 46 andan upper horizontal flange 41 overlying the top wall 40. An improved closure 49 is provided for sealing this opening 4il, the same being of insulation and includingla top wall 59 with a depending flange iii; the latter having an insulation partition 52 .at the lower end thereof, providing with the wall a hollow is provided with gaskets 54 and 55 for sealing engagement between the closure and the flanges iosure 1 41 and respectively, above mentioned. All ,of-

these parts of the closure are preferably of insulation, but lt is provided witha metallic coni vexly shaped cap 56 secured at 51 to the top wall,

II. This cap centrally thereof has a resilient metal arm 90, in the shape of a bar, riveted centrallythereto at H.

drawings) to the top wall of the, casing, so that the closure 49 may beswung on the pivot 62 and entirely removed from the opening 44 to have ac- One free end of the bar I is pivotally mounted at 82 (Figure 3 of the.

cess to the interior of the casing B, These ,fea-

tures are shown in both Figures 3 and 5 or the drawings. The bar at its opposite end may be clamped p n the top wall by means of a lever 93 pivoted aunm the top wall: the latter be-" bar I is tensioned, as shown in Figure 5 in order to force the closure into sealing engagement with the gaskets seated against the collar 45, as above mentioned. Thisprovids a very durable yet efncient and easily operated means for mounting.

the closure. r

The casing B is provided with a dispensing chute ll mounted in the insulation material of-the front wall structure..- It has an opening at its upper end intothe refrigerated compartment 32 in facing relation near the bottom of the enlarged portion "of the compartment; the chute l being of insulating material arid curving or sloping downwardly :to .an outlet opening 'II in the front wall'25, shownin Figure of the drawings. The w front wall 25 is provided with a pocket or receptacle 12 to catch the dispensed article as it passes through the opening 'II. In' facing relation with the opening II the chute I0 is provided with a floor I3 sloped to discharge the article through; the opening II. Intermediate its ends the chute 1 Us provided with a trap door 14 hinged at and spring urged normally to a closing position against a downwardly facing shoulder 16. The article dropping through the upper end of the chute I0 by gravity and hitting against the closure I4 will open the latter. to permit discharge through the opening II. It is readily apparent that this trap door It prevents loss of refrigeration, and additionally prevents unauthorized enchine operating mechanism. It is provided with a reinforcing ring 80 about the upper peripheral margin thereof upon which an overhead inverted U-shapedbracket 8| is mounted; the latter having depending legs 82 and 83 which are respectively attaohed'as shown at 84 and 85 in Figures 2 and 17 of the drawings. This bracket is a metal casting and centrally supports the bearing for the upper end of-the rotatable carrier C.

Referring. to the carrier construction C, the same includes upper and lower guide supporting spiders or members 81 and 88, which are of substantially the same construction, each including a disc-like central hub portion 09 with arms uniformly divergently extending away therefrom;

said arms being designated at 90 and terminating in an annular connecting portion 9|, horizontally disposed; said portion 0| having uniformly arranged openings therein with their centers lying in a circle struck from the center of the disc 89. These openings of the upper and .lowerspiders 8'! and 88 support the upper and lower ends of guide tubes or columns 02, of sheet metal, wherein the articles to be dispensed are maintained in stacked columnar relation, supported at their lower ends upon the elevator 91.

' These guide tubes 92 are vertically slotted at 96,

and flanged at opposite sides of said s1 ts into engaging relation with the spider arms 90, as

' ated articles as they are elevated through the is shown in Figure 8 of ,the drawings and elsewhere. -The top of the rotatable carrier terminates at about the same level as the entrance to the dispensing chute 10, to permit the "refrigertop of the guidetubes 02 to be successively dispensed by means to be subsequently described, into the chute 10.

The" rotatable carrier C is provided with a step bearing 09 which is mounted upon the bottom wail of the tank II; the hub portion '9 of the lower-spider -or. end. 00 of-the carrier rotatably bearing on this step bearing 09 the step bearing being provided with a suitable shoulder to maintain the lowermost portion of the spider or lower carrier end 88 above the bottom slate wall of the tank 35, to prevent any moisture or water which may collect in the bottom'of thetank from surrounding the point on which the spider 00 bears, so that freezing of the carrier to the step hear,- ing is prevented. This is an important feature, as indeed many types of refrigerated vending machines are thoroughly impractical due to lack of consideration of freezing temperatures, which .very often cause relatively movable parts to freeze together, rendering the mechanism inoperative. In the present invention these features have been thoroughly considered and tested.

A spirally grooved removable shaft I00 is axially positioned in the carrier construction, hav

- ing a lower socketed end supported upon the step bearing 09. The hub portion 89 of the upper spider 81 is provided with a central opening IOI, with the upper end of the spirally grooved shaft I00 extending therethrough, as shown in Figure I1 of the drawings. This shaft I00 at its upper end is provided with adjustable means I02 for keying the same rigid withthe supporting bracket 8|, so as to prevent its rotation, except under circumstances to be subsequently described.

The elevator 91 includes a hub portion I03 apertured for slidable mounting upon the shaft I00. It furthermore includes a plurality of radially extending arms I04, best shown in Figure13 of the drawings, each of which at the free end thereof supports a platform I05 provided with a. peripheral edge I06 thereabout. These arms I04 radially extend through the slots 96 in the guide tubes 92; the platforms I05 being positioned in the guide tubes, and each intended to support thereon a stack or column of articles I01, which in the specific example shown are of cup-shaped formation. They may or may not be'nested. The hub I03, as shown in Figure 13 of the drawings, is provided with a pin I01, which radially projects into the spiral groove I08 provided in the outer periphery of the shaft I00, so that as an incident of rotation of the carrier C the elevator 9'! will be fed upwardly or downwardly. During normal dispensing operation the elevator 91 will of course be moved upwardly in order, to permit the uppermost of the cartons from the columns to be dispensedfrom successive columns as the carrier C is intermittently brought to dispensing position. An important feature of the elevator 91 is the fact that the platforms I05 are vertically offset in successively stepped rela-, tion so that the uppermost carton of each column, as the column approaches the dispensing chute, will be moved to a proper position from which the means G may grasp and eject the carton. 1

It can quite readily be appreciated that the shaft I00 will have to be removable, in order to substitute other shafts from time to time having of the carrier C the elevator 91' will be elevated for the effective height of one .of the articles, if it is intended to dispense a single article at a time from the machine.

As to the manner of mounting the upper end of the shaft I, the means I02 includes a sleeve or collar I00- provided with a passageway I00 therein within which the upper reduced end II.

of the shaft I00 rotatably bears. A removable bushing III-is mounted in fixed relation within predetermined circlesiof definite diameters in an opening I I 2 in the bracket arm 3| as shown in Figure 17, by means of screws H3. The sleeve I08' bears in this bushing III, extending upwardly thereabove and downwardly-therebelow. The lower portion of the sleeve is provided with a worm gear I I4, which ispartof the compensating means K. It is held normally against rotation by themeans K until there is some inequality in 1 the height of the cartons which necessitates an angular movement of the shaft I in order. to

. This pivoted detent II! is pivoted by a pinJI I0 in the upper kerfed end of the shaft I00, as shown in Figure 1'7, and therefrom it may be swung upwardly, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 17,

to rotate the shaft I00 entirely independent of the compensating means K. The keyed position is shown in full lines in Figure 17, and under such circumstancesof course the shaft. I00 is keyed with the sleeve I00 and moves therewith.

The motor D may be relatively small,"and if desired it may be mounted in an insulated or partially insulated casing. It is attached by suitable bracket means upon the exterior of the tank 35 near the upper end of the latter, in the position shown in Figure 5. It has gear reducing mechanism I20 driven by the shaft of the motor; the gear reduction mechanism I20 having its casing attached by suitable bolt means Ii2I, shown in Figure'6 of the drawings, to the reinforcing ring 00 of the tank; The gear' reduction mechanism is'providedwith a driven shaft I23, shown best in Figure l of the drawings, which is slowly I rotated by the motor through the gear reduction mechanism at a proper operating speed ratio.-

The shaft I23 is mounted upon a vertical axis at abouts. location level with the top of the tank 35, and itis provided with a laterally extending I24 having an eccentric shaft I25 positio d upon a. vertical axis to which a connecting arm I20. is rotatably-attached; the arm I being the means which operatively connects the means G,

' H, and K with the motor D. Further referring to Figure 15 it will be noted that the top'of the eccentric I is providedwith a laterally extending portion I28 which is shown to be of discshaped formation, but which does not necessarily have to be of this shape. It supports a second eccentric I20 mounted upon a vertical axis offset from the axes of both the shafts, I23 and "Sand rotatably receives thereon a pawl arni I30 comprising part of the means F to be subsequently described. It is quite apparent that during rotation of the shaft I23 the arm I24 will be rotated for moving the eccentrics I20 and I210 through order to oscillate the connecting rod I20 and the -\pawl arm I30, for" actuating mechanismto be hereinafter described in .detail.

Referring'to the means F connected with the f motor to intermittently advance the rotary carrier, such means includes a ratchet wheel I "rigidly but detachabl'y keyed atrifl upon the top' spider 01 of" the carrier 0, as shown in Figure 17.

The pawl arm in is intended to actuate ratchet wheel I35, having a. hook end I3lthereon which during oscillation of the arm I30- engages the teeth ofthe ratchetwheel I35 tointermittently advance the carrierC. A spring I40 normally urges the arm I30 at its hook end against the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Sincev under some circumstances the hook end of the pawl I30 may not engage the teeth of the. ratchet wheel, due to-spring action alone, I have provided a pin I4I mounted upon the bracket arm 8i and depending therefrom, against which a'cam edge I42 of the pawl arm is intended to hit in' order to deflect the pawl arminto position for engaging the teeth of. the ratchet wheel. This only occurs in event the-spring I40 is frosted to such an extent as not to act normally. During normal action the edge I42 does not hit the pin I. The starting position of themeans F is shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, and successive positionszare shown in Figures 4 and 8 respectively. Abellcrank detent I44 ispivoted at I45, on the bracket 0i. It is provided with an arm I46 which may be moved to engage a portion I41 ofthe pawl arm I30 to hold the same inactive. .It is provided with another arm I40 normally urged by a spiral spring I49, shown best in-Figure.;17, into position to act as a dog against the teeth of the ratchet; wheel I35, as shown in Figures 4 and 8 of the; drawings, to preventany counter movementof 1+ the carrier after the cup intended next to be dispensed has been advanced to the position in which the means G may engage it and moveit to the dispensing chute.

This pivot I is. provided with ai'lnger engaging handle I50 on the top 0 thereof to facilitate movement of the detent I44 to either of the positions above described.

Referring to the ejecting means G, thecups are elevated as above described and the uppermost of the cups in each column are elevated out of the respective guide tubes in which positioned and successively brought into position designated by the numeral I in Figure 6 of. the drawings, and from which position the carrier is moved slightly and the gripping tongs closed to engage ihecarton and thereafter move it laterally and drop it into the chute I0.

The eccentric attached connecting rod [201s provided with a forked end to which is pivoted at 1 I50 an end of a slidable rack bar I,5'|. This rack bar is slidably mounted upon a base I50 which is rigidly attached on the supporting'rlng' at the top of the tank 35, as shownin Figures 11 and 17 ofthe drawings. A flange on the-base main-, tains the bar I51 in position for rectilinear move ment as the connecting rod I26 is oscillated through connection with the eccentric of the driven shaft I23 above described. This rack -I5I is provided with an upwardly facing series of rack teeth I00 intended to actuate an operating pinion 240 of the compensating means K to be subsequently described, laterial series of rack'teeth I 5i, shown in dotted lines in Figure 8 of the drawings, meshing with the teeth of a pinion I02 keyed or otherwise fixed upon the lowei; end of a vertical sleeve I03 comprising part of the, means I64 by which the carton or article gripping andejecting'tongs I05 are mounted to enable them to vertically and laterally move the carton to a dispensing position.

'I'hesleeve I03 is rotatably mounted upon'an upright shaft I01 which is/keyed at I03 upon the .portion 30 of the. tank,'as'shown in Figure 11 -of the drawings,- and in a non-rotatable position.

The sleeve I03 is provided with a laterally extending 'pin I00,as shown-in Figure 11 which 60 It is also provided with a.

' operates in a spiral slot I10 provided inthe lower portion of a sleeve I". This slot I10 extends through .90 about the sleeve "I, and through thepin connection I59 therein the said sleeve "I is elevated and lowered and moved thru an arcsuflicient to move the tongs back and forth between the extremepositions shown inFigures 6 J and 8 of the drawings. A-spiral spring I12 is provided on the upper end of the shaft I51, having an end, I13 connected thereto; the opposite end of the spring being keyed at I14 to the sleeve I1I. This spring is tensioned so that it normally moves the sleeve "I to a position which will place vided'with a fixed segment I18 and a pivoted segment I19 which is pivoted at I80. The segmoved into carton clamping position as shown in Figure 4, or may be relatively moved away from each other into carton receiving position 'A spring I8! is so placed upon the gripping tong and the movable segment I19 that it will exert its force to maintain the segments I18 and I19, either in open article receiving position as shown in Figure. 6, or in carton clamping. position, as :shown in Figure. In the former position 8. lug I84 engages against a stop portion of the fixed segment I18, as shown in Figure 6, andin the closed position of the ton'g'segments the same'will abut against each other at their ends adjacent thepivot I80, as shown in Figure 1. The spring I82 acts to snap the tong segments either open or closed, as soon as the end connected to the movable tong segment has passed a dead center line drawn between the axis of the pivot I80 and the other connection of thespring I82. The closing of the tong segments I18 and H9 upon a-*-cartoninto position to be received thereby, is facilitated by engagement of the movable segment I11.

against a depending finger I81, mounted upon the overhead supporting bar 8|, as shown in Figures 4 and 11 of the'drawings. The movement of the I tong segments to carton releasing position is facilitated by engagement oi, an extension I88 upon the movable segment I19 with an upstanding pin I90 vertically positioned as shown in Figure 5 adjacent the entrance to the dispensing chute 10 iii positionto engagethe arm I08, as shown in the dotted lines in Figure 10 of the drawings, to cause the spring of the tongs to snap the tong segments open, as shown in Figure 8, to release a carton formerly held thereby and drop it into the dispensing chute. The operating action of the ejecting meansG is of course timed with advance of the carrier by the means F. The starting position is shown in .Figure 6,wherein it is, shown that the tongs are open ready to receive the carton I55 shown in that figure. The-motor driven shaft I22'rotates in the direction shown by the arrows. Itwill be TIP position is located so that the pawl I will move e the ratchet wheel- I slightly before dead center position is passed. This rotates the carrier from the position'shown in Figure 6 for a slight anfrygular movement sufiici'ent l to move the carton the pin I59 in the .bottom of the spiral slot I10.

ments I18 and I19 are complementary and may be mechanism, between the portion I15 of the tongs 'noted that the eccentric I29 at-this starting.

I against the grip ing tongs, inorder to dislodge it from the c on therebelow upon which it may rest, and to which it may be frozen by any moisture which may have collected to cause such adherence. Also, going back to the starting position shown in Figure 6, it will be noted that the tong arm I19 is engaged against the finger I81. This position was assumed while the preceding dispensing action was still in progress, as

The eccentric I25 in the preceding operapreceding operation the tong arm I19 engagedthe finger I81 before completion of said preceding dispensing operation. During this portion oi the preceding operation the sleeve I was I elevated, as shown in Figure 11, and in this position the pin I59 of course is positioned in the lower end of the spiral slot I10 of the sleeve I1I. Towards the end of the preceding operation the segment I19 engaged the finger I81 and stopped further movement of the tong arm I15. However, the-rack through engagement-with the pinion I52 continued to rotate the sleevev I58 causing the sleeve "I to be vertically lowered upon the sleeve I58 to a position where the pin I59 was placed about midway between the ends of the slot I10, at the time the preceding cycle of operation was completed. In the starting position shown in Figure 6, the eccentric I25 will rotate to pull the rack bar I51 in order to complete the lowering oi! the sleeve I" to the position shown in Figure 12. This occurs just at about the time that the carrier C is moved to hit the carton I55 against the open tongs. Thereafter the rack bar I51 continues to move towards the motor, and inasmuch as the pin I59 has reached the top end of the slot I10, in the position shown in Figure 12, it is quite evident that continued retraction of the bar "I51 will cause the tong arm I15 to move, which will move the segment I18 towards the carton I55. Since the segment I 19 cannot move, as it is engaged against the finger I81'the tong arm I15 will move until the spring I82 snaps .past dead center, and at which time the tong arms I18 and I19 will grip the carton I55 and forcefully giving it a lateral shove to completely dislodge it from the carton column in which the carton is positioned. It will be noted from Figure 4 that the axis .of the eccentric shaft I25 ot the arm I24 is on line and as the motor continues to operate, the rack bar I51 yvill bemoved forwardly in the direction of the dispensing chute. This rotates the sleeve .4 I08 moving the pin I59. Since the spring I12 i with the rectilinear movement of the rack bar,-

will hold the tongs against the finger m the pin I59 riding along the slot I10 will raise the sleeve. "IV to the position shown in Figure 11.

This

operation will raise the carton I55 outof the I I The upper end of the dispensing chute is procarton and it drops into the entrance of the ing 23I, as shown in Figure 17, having a ratchet wheel 232 keyed at one end thereof. Aligning shaft portions 233 .and 234 of the diiferential are provided with suitable bevel gears 230 and 230 respectively, meshing with the usual bevel differdispensing chute 10. as can unite readily be unr derstood.

Referring to the motor controlled closure means H, the same cooperates with the means I and G to permit the article to be dispensed from the machine without appreciable loss of refrigeration.

vided with an insulation plate or wall 200 which has an opening therethrough to the dispensing chute 10. This wall 2001s aillxed at I to the stationary top 80 of the tank. It has a closure 203 pivoted thereon'at 204 and spring urged at 200 to a normally closed position. As shown in Figure '1 of the drawings this closure 203, on thepivot 202 to whiehit is keyed, is provided/ with a crank arm 201. A connecting rod or member 2001s pivoted at 209 to the end of the crank arm 201. At its oppositeend therod or member 200 is provided with a right angled slot including anupstanding vertical portion 2I0 and a horizontal ential gears 231, as shown in' Figure 17. The: shaft 233 rotatably bears in the bracket arm 03 above mentioned and adjacent the ratchet wheel 232 it is provided with a gear 240 meshingwith the bar portion I 60 of the rack I51, as shown in Figure 17. The other diflerential shaft 23! is provided with -a worm 242, as shown in Figure 8, which meshes with the worm gear HQ above described.

portion 2. A pin 2I2 fixedly connected with the rack bar ,I51 extends into this slotted arrangement of the bar 200. As the eccentric I draws the rack bar .I51 towards the motor the pin 2I2- will be moved rearwardiy until in a position at the lower end of the vertical slot 2I0, at

which time theslotted end of the bar 200 will drop to latch the pin 2I2 in the uppelje nd oi the slot 2l0. This, occurs at the timethat the carton I is grasped by the tong arms, after the machine has been set into operation. .As the tong arms are swung to carry the carton laterally to a position over the dispensing chute, the rack I51 moving forwardly will push the bar 200 forwardiy, and through its connection with the crank arm 201 will open the closure 203, to permit the article to be dropped into the dispensing chute 10.. This dispensingposition of parts is shbwn in Figure 8 of the drawings; Upon the drawings, for imparting slight angular movement return movement of the tongs after the carton has been dispensed, toplacethe mechanism in the reset position, shown in Figure 6; as the rack bar I01 is moved towards the motor, a pivoted trip lever 220, shown in- Figure 1 of the drawings, which is pivoted at 22I on thebar 200 willride into engagement withthe sloping cam edge 2I2 of a cam 220 which is fixed upon the'stationary part of themachine. This action will elevate.

the slotted endof the bar or member 200, re-' moving the pin 2I2 from the upper end of the slot 2", and at ch time the spring 200 will shut the,closure 203; the pin 2I2 now riding along-the 'slo't 2II. This position is maintained until the machine is again operated. It will be noted that the trip lever 220 ,will pivot in one direction only,

so. that during forward movement of thelever against the opposite" sl face of the cam 22!, but only;to'pivot at 22 which will not raise thebar200,.-w

Referring to the compensating means K which switch arm I" and throw out the dwitch200' 200 to open the closure the lever. 220 will-engage During normal action of the operating me'chanism the differential K plays no part whatsoever in adjusting the height of the stacked articles in orderto properly bring a carton into position. 2"

Under such circumstances the gear 240 is oscillated back and forth by engagement with the rack bar I00, and 'the shaft 233 of course oscillates therewith; the differential gearing taking up the motion and oscillating the differential housing 7 23I- back and forth;,t he shaft 23! remaining stationary. However, by referring to Figure 23 it will be seen that a detent 200 is pivoted at 2" upon the bottom of the overhead bracket 0i. This detent 200 at one side of its pivot is provided with a U-shaped carton eng in spring 283 which is preferably resilient. If the cartons, one of which is designated at 2fl, in Figure 23, are

elevated too fast, or if the height thereof is such that they will eventually not be brought into.

proper dispensing position with the gripping tongs, the upper'edges of the cartons will en-' gage the spring 253, as will be noted from Figure 23; tipping the detent 2!0 to. engage it with'the ratchet wheel 232. This ction will prevent rota- 40 tion of the ratchet wheel :1 one direction, so that.

actuation'of the gear 240 y the rack bar I00 will rotate the worm 242, shownfin Figure 8 of the to the worm gear Ill. This will angularly move the shaft I00,'shown in Figure 17, since such shaft is keyed at II1 to the sleeve on which the worni gear in is positioned; moving the shaft .I00 angularly to permit. the elevator pin I01 to slide downwardly slightly in the spiral groove til- I00; lowering the. cartons slightly. Since under some circumstances the cartons may be of' a height which will not proportionately correspond'with the pitch of the groove in the shaft limit can .readllybe understood that this compensating means K plays a very important part lnpl-operly bringing the-cartons to a disp ns n position.

From Figure 2 it will be noted same including a depending pin 20I in position. to be engaged by a pin 202'which is mounted upon'one of the arnis in-Flgure 13; this pin 202 rising to engage the when the machine is empty. This switch 200 corresponds to the switch l00 set forth in'a copending application, 8erial No. 96.867 flied August I 19, 1936; bearing Patent Number 2,144,568

granted January '17, loss. describing the coin control mechanism for the improved machine "A. 'Aswill benotedfl'om Figures l'l'toiloof the pitch of the groorve- I00, the same includes a differential mechanism 230' consisting of a cas- V that a out-out switch 200 is mounted upon the bracket 0I, the

I of the elevator, as shown wi1l-' enalllLthe stacked articles to be pr e ly brought to the dispensing position to compensate 7 for variation between height-of the"cartons and therewith; the same having a pair of contact drawings, and elsewhere, the shaft 233 is provided with 9. switch om m which oooilloioofih' is provided with an arcuate slot within which these switch arms operate; said insulation block including complementary portions 210 and 2H which are provi ed with contacts in the facing surfaces thereof. The switch'arms 261 and 268 are each of U-shaped construction, each providing' a, pair of resilient arms normally urged away from each other. For these portions of the switch arm 261 the insulation block parts 210 and 2H are provided with-a pair of contacts 213 and 214 which areengaged by the contact 261 to bridge a circuit therethrough. The complementary parts of the insulation support are also provided with a pair of plate contacts 216 and 211 in position to be engaged by the opposite spring arms of the contact 268. This motor controlled switch mechanism has been described in the copending application, Serial No, 96,861 filed August 19, 1936, bearing Patent Number 2,144,568 granted January 17', 1939 above described. In that application the switch arms I44 and I61 correspond to the switch arms 261 and 268 of the coil 281 thru a line 288 leading from the coil 285 the latter coils from becoming frosted to any appreciable extent,

present application; the contacts I and I45 correspond to the contact plates 213 and 214 of the present application, and the contacts I51' of the said co-pending application correspond to the contact plates 216 and 211 of the present application. Y

- Referring to the refrigeration means L, the

same'includes the refrigeration unit 30 heretofore referred to. In the upper portion of the refrigerated compartment is an expansion valve 280,shown in Figures. 2 and 4 of the drawings, and in' the diagrammatic refrigeration diagram ,in Figure 22. The outgoing line 28I leads from the unit 30 through the expansion valve 280;

expanding the refrigeration medium into a spiral coll 283 which surrounds the carrier C, within the tank 35, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings;

the coil 283 being a double coil so that the refrigeration medium is first directed downwardly through the coil 283 towards the lower end of the carrier, and at 284 the refrigerant is returned in parallelism with the coil 283, through a return coil 285. These coils 283 and 285 are located about the carrier Cybelow the top of the tank and above the bottom of the tank 35 .for an an; preciable distance, sufilcient 'to give the most efiicient refrigeration for the articles being vended. A-preferably flat coil 281 is-provided in the upper portion of the refrigeration compartment, preferably immediately below the refill opening 44 to the vending machine casing; the

convolutions of the coils281 preferably iyingin the same plane, as shown inFigures -5 and 22. The refrigerant enters the inner portion of the and next returns through a line 289 tothe unit 80. The'importance of the coil 281 cannot be exaggerated,-since thereon the moisture in ,the refrigeration compartment'is collected and deposited before the moisture has an opportunity to settle on the coils 283 and 285, thus preventing This means that themachine will operate for long periods of time without requiring defrosting In a vending machine this is very important, requiring but little attentlon upon the part of the owner or concessionaire of the machine.

The facility with which the elevator 91 may be elevated and lowered is noted, since in order to quickly accomplish the elevation or lowering it of Figure 21, as above mentioned the same has been described in detail in a co-pending application, Serial No. 96,867 filed August 19, 1936 bearing Patent Number 2,144,568 granted January 17, 1939. It will be briefly referred to herein. The operator desiring to receive a packaged article from the vending machine will drop a proper coin into the coin entrance chute 300 of the coin control mechanism E, as shown in Figure 1. The coin 30I, shown in Figure 21 will close a switch mechanism 302 directing current from a circuit 304 through a relay 305 for attracting the armature 306 thereof. The circuit in order to reach-the relay 305 must travel through a normally closed switch 301 in the circuit. This switch 301 includes as a part thereof an armature 308 which is part of a relay 309. Closing of the circuit through the relay 305 will close a normally open switch 3H! and direct the current through electro-magnetic means 3| I of a suitable detector unit. The circuit completed through this means 3 will enable the coin 30I which passes therethrough to be detected and either ejected from the coin control mechanism at 3I2, shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, or permitted to pass for upon energization of the detector means 3.

However, the winding of the relay 305 is still energized through a holding circuit which includes a thermostatically controlled switch 320. Closing the circuit through the relay 309 will of course move the armature 308 for opening the circuit'through the switch 301. The armature 308 bridging a pair of contacts 322 will close a circuit through the motor D, setting the switch arm 265.111 motion. It will be noted that at the start of theoperation, the switch arm 281 bridges the contacts 213 and 214, to enable a circuit to be completed through the relay 309. The good coin-after closing the switch 3I4 drops upon a trip lever 323'for opening the' switch 3, but the relay 309 still remains -energized' through the holding circuit completed after the armature 308 moves into engagement with the contacts 322. The motor controlled switch arm 265 will move until the contact arm 268 bridges the contacts 216 and 211, which directs the current into the motor D. At this time the arm 261 has moved out of engagement with the contacts 213 and 214, breaking the circuit through the relay 309, and the armature'308 thereof will spring back to close the switch 301 for the next operation. The switch arm 265 oscillates across the contacts 216 and 21-1 and returns to the.:position shown in Figure 21 for the next coin operation, as has been described in the above co-pending application, Serial No. 96,867 filed August 19, 1936 hearing Patent Number 2,144,568 granted January 17,

"1939." In the, circuit 'a normally closed circuit making and breaking switch 325 is provided in motor D.

to open through placing of an overload upon the motor D. If desired a magnetic counter 328 may be connected in operating circuit with the Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of inventiomhrein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a vending machine construction the combination of a casing havingfa dispensing opening leading from a. compartment therein, 'a rotary carrier construction mounted in said compartvment including a spirally grooved vertical shaft,

elevate or lower the same and the stacks of articles therewith, means to dispense the articles from the stacks through the dispensing opening, and means normally holding the shaft stationary including means to rotate the same to a desired adjusted position for bringing the elevator to a desired level.

2. In a vending machine construction the combination of'a casing having a dispensing opening leading from a compartment therein, a rotary carrier construction mounted in said compartment including a spirally grooved vertical shaft, an elevator member having a hub provided with a slidable pin connection in the spiral groove of the shaft and a plurality of outstanding arms provided-with a series of individual article stack supporting platforms. surrounding said shaft, means to rotate the elevator about the "shaft to elevate or lower the same and the stacks of articles therewith, means to dispense the articles from the stacks through the dispensing opening, means normally holding the shaft-stationary including means to rotate the same to a desired adjusted position for bringing the elevator to a desired level, said elevator platforms being arranged in successive vertically stepped. relation. 3. In a vending machine the combination of a vending machine casing having a compartment provided with a dispensing opening leading therefrom, a stacked article carrier in the compartment, means to move the article carrier to successively bring articles. into dispensing position adjacent the dispensing opening, and

' dispensing means including pivoted articlegripping tongs, means toactu'ate said tongs to grip the topmost article as it is brought intoposition adjacent the dispensing opening, means to elevate said tongs to lift' said article thus grasped off of the article therebelow, means to s lifted article through an arc to a posit on adjacent to'said dispensing opening, and means to open said tongs and move the article thus re-' ng said one of the main lines of the circuit 304, intended of predetermined length, a pin on the first sleevehaving a slidable extension in said spiral slot, an expansible spring normally keying the shaft with the second sleeve and urging the shaft in one direction, and an article dispensing member on the second sleeve movable therewith through a predetermined arc of movement and lifted thereby as the second sleeve is slid axially along thefirst mentioned sleeve as an incident of oscillation of said first mentioned sleeve.

5. In a vending machine the combination of a casing having a compartment therein and a disopening,'dispensing means for moving the articlesffrom such position into dispensing relation with said opening, and'means actuated by irregularities in the size of the articles to be dispensed to vary the normal actuating movement of the carrier in order to properly bring the articles into position with respect to the; dispensing means from which they-may be most efficiently moved to the dispensing opening.

6. In a vending machine the combination of a casing having an article receiving compartment provided with a dispensing opening leading,

therefrom, a rotary carrier in the compartment having means to support a series of stacks of;

articles thereon, and means to elevate the stacks to successively bring the uppermost articles of opening, means to dispense the articles through saidopeningas they are brought into position,

the stacks into position adjacent the dispensing and. compensating means to bring the stacked articles to proper dispensing position notwithstanding variation in height of the articles.

I 7. In a vending machine the combination of a 'casingrhaying an article receiving compartment therein and a dispensing opening leading therefrom, an external spirally grooved vertical shaft in said casing, elevating means having a slidable pin connection in the groove of said shaft and supporting a plurality of stacks of articles surrounding said shaft, dispensing means for dispensing the articles which are uppermost on the stacks as the stacks are successively brought into ,a dispensing relation with the dispensing means, and height compensating means operatively connected with said dispensing means and said spirally grooved shaft for angularly adjusting the position ofth. latter in order to bring the uppermost of the articles of the stacks into proper position-with respect to the dispensing.

. means, said compensating means having a controlling member in position to be operated upon by the uppermost articles of the stacks in order to adjust the angularity of'the said shaft.

' 8. In a dispensing machine the combination of a rotary carrier construction including means to support articles in stacked relation and move the stacks axially to bring the articles into dispensing, position, motor actuated dispensing means tomove the articles from the stacks and dispense them, and means to compensate for the size of the articles in order to bring them into JAMES COLUMBUS rtrcrmnnsorz. 

